Villa Park Redevelopment

[Drummond]

A few points

1. Heck is already killing people's love for the club which is quite a feat considering it's one of the best teams on the field we have had in 50 years.

2. There is no way Emery would have the final say on an infrastructure project that precedes his tenure and will have impact decades after his tenure.

3. There is no way they cancelled it because of on-the-field success. During Man U's glory days of the mid 90s to mid 00s cranes and building works were ever present at Old Trafford, ditto Liverpool in the Klopp era.

4. Finances: yes PSR is tight. Do we really think keeping open an almost 50 year old stand that cost us £1m to build in 1977 is going to be the difference when they have spent many millions painting it up, putting in new seats, creating new premium experiences etc?

Heck is on record as saying last November he decided it was a bad idea to go ahead. It would have been 'do or die' at that stage with the logistics o everything. He has obviously got out his power point and spent a lot of time arguing in favour of not going ahead with the project and they have agreed.

He will be gone by the time it bites us.

1. Do you not love Villa any more?
2. No he wouldn't, nobody has said he would have, merely that his view is important. See also Wenger at Arsenal regarding their stadium as an example of manager involvement.
3. Nope, not in exclusivity, but it may be a part of it.
4. Yes, otherwise why would they have done it?

There are a lot of things going on, a lot of which are pissing people off, particularly as it's not a working man's game any more. What's interesting is that we have different groups of people complaining about ticket availability and prices, wanting a reduced capacity, not seeming to accept the need for increased revenue generation, wanting better facilities, and some that just want a clean fucking toilet.

We have supporters who want nothing more than the football, turn up last minute, don't drink or eat, sit down as the game kicks off and then leave. That's fine and what we should cater for, along with those who just want a pie and a pint (and the football) and then others who want full on prawn sandwich and demanding perfect facilities.

Football should be a game that's accessible for everyone, but it can't all be done very easily. Not saying it's impossible but at the moment every aspect is competing and isn't really working, that's the issue.

[Risso]

I think the overwhelming thing at the moment though is, however well things are going on the pitch, off the field they're really not pleasing anybody. Whether it's the hospitality clients, the GA+ people, or the GA supporters. They just haven't got any of it consistently right, and it all feels very short term and rushed.

[Chris Smith]

On top of the suggestions above can you imagine the outcry if there were only 30,000 home tickets available for the Bayern game due to building work, the club would be getting just as much stick but for very different reasons.

[Ads]

That's because a facility on the footprint of the 19th century, with stadia 50-23 years old, isn't fit to accommodate all those competing forces.

[Risso]

On top of the suggestions above can you imagine the outcry if there were only 30,000 home tickets available for the Bayern game due to building work, the club would be getting just as much stick but for very different reasons.

I don't think they would, not at all. Everybody knew about the plans, and we qualified for the Champions League after they were announced.

[Ads]

On top of the suggestions above can you imagine the outcry if there were only 30,000 home tickets available for the Bayern game due to building work, the club would be getting just as much stick but for very different reasons.

I don't think they would, not at all. Everybody knew about the plans, and we qualified for the Champions League after they were announced.

It would still be a shame though. They'll get away with it like it is this year, because there isn't any sum I wouldn't pay to be there and many will feel the same. But if we're consistently this good all the while, the novelty will wear off.

[PeterWithe]

On top of the suggestions above can you imagine the outcry if there were only 30,000 home tickets available for the Bayern game due to building work, the club would be getting just as much stick but for very different reasons.

I don't think that's at all accurate, it would have been seen as short term pain for long term gain. Its never going to be easy to make the changes needed, so crack on now. If that's the plan.

[Drummond]

On top of the suggestions above can you imagine the outcry if there were only 30,000 home tickets available for the Bayern game due to building work, the club would be getting just as much stick but for very different reasons.

I don't think that's at all accurate, it would have been seen as short term pain for long term gain. Its never going to be easy to make the changes needed, so crack on now. If that's the plan.

There are thousands who'd not have had a chance, the effect the supporters have is pointed out by manager after manager, so it would be a difference. Perhaps the first season was more important to help the players rather than thinking about playing towards an empty stand. There are competing views, of course, but it's a reason I can understand. And not being a season ticket holder, I'd be at risk of not getting to see the game. I'm glad I'm going.

[Mister E]

Emery's view about support.
Increasing the revenue per head.
A bigger, bolder plan.
More GA+ offering, and whether they can generate demand for it.
A wider development, of perhaps the whole place.
The Witton Station work, or lack of it.
The wider transport infrastructure plan.
Lack of Support from the council (given they're fucked financially)
The bringing on of new shareholders/directors, who are specialists to oversee it.
A review of whether we do actually relocate and Heck gets potted as part of it.
That people are changing their minds on any or all aspects of that rebuild.

You make some great points (particularly the ones in bold italics). The ones I've crossed through are, perhaps, less relevant.
It's impossible to know what's going on behind the scenes but my guess is that NSWE are looking at a new site, to be funded outside the Villa accounts, with the club paying rent to the V Group (or another) entity - a 5-6 year project. Alternatively, they might be considering building a new North Stand around and behind the current structure so that they do not need to close the current stand before absolutely necessary. Linked to that would be a similar scheme around the Witton Lane stand (which would require some CPO to be put in place). As said before, the biggest problem with the current site is that it has limitations of transport links and the space to build other facilities and services (retail, hotel, multi-sport), and our new directors are - I'm sure - here to exploit the larger potential beyond simply football.
Despite what Heck has said, a new build is the only obvious solution.
In the interim, maximising revenue per head will continue to be the approach in order to manage PSR.
Finally, we still have a commitment to the Euros 2028: what does that mean in practice re the stadium capacity and services? - I've no idea, but it's out there.

[andyh]

I am not an apologist for the club, I never have been.
But the fact I like the kit, I like the crest, I like the modernisation of the ground.
I’m getting used to the pre match razzmatazz and understand it’s a necessary evil now.

I defended the introduction of the turnstile technology. I never once said it wouldn’t cause issues or delays (I posted before the arsenal games that it would be carnage).
But again, I recognise that he club has to modernise and use the tools of the day.
And hopefully, they sort all the issues rapidly. People have paid a lot of money for their tickets, wherever they sit.
No one, should miss minutes of a game because the turnstiles don’t work or aren’t open. That is unacceptable.

But, I have to agree with most that Heck is paying a very dangerous game and is alienating so many people, including the lifeblood of the club, the season ticket holders.

I sense a breaking point approaching. I don’t know what form it will take, but people only have so much patience.

[Chris Smith]

On top of the suggestions above can you imagine the outcry if there were only 30,000 home tickets available for the Bayern game due to building work, the club would be getting just as much stick but for very different reasons.

I don't think that's at all accurate, it would have been seen as short term pain for long term gain. Its never going to be easy to make the changes needed, so crack on now. If that's the plan.

You really think that current long term season ticket holders would happily accept missing our biggest season in decades?

[amfy]

On top of the suggestions above can you imagine the outcry if there were only 30,000 home tickets available for the Bayern game due to building work, the club would be getting just as much stick but for very different reasons.

I don't think that's at all accurate, it would have been seen as short term pain for long term gain. Its never going to be easy to make the changes needed, so crack on now. If that's the plan.

You really think that current long term season ticket holders would happily accept missing our biggest season in decades?

They wouldn’t. There are only 27,000 season ticket holders.

[London Villan]

I can understand the pause if it was to review all options and develop alternatives.

I can also see an individual that may have been given a brief to maximise revenue at all costs.

[Drummond]

Claret members would be really pissed off if there were only a handful available

[Villan82]

Everybody knew for two years we were redeveloping. We also redeveloped during the 1994-95 Uefa Cup campaign, we'd have been down to 36,000. Absolutely not ideal and I would much prefer they could redevelop in a way that didn't necessitate losing capacity during the works.

We can debate and debate but the key issue is the utterly crap way he communicated that we weren't going ahead and everything he has done since points to a lack of imagination and copying Chelsea.

Ambitious clubs want to play in front of bigger crowds and bring more footfall through the shop, restaurants etc whereas it feels like Heck has a laser focus on just getting more expensive seats into the existing stadium

Edit, I'd love to know how much youtube revenue Everton get from those videos of the new stadium progress. We could have had a monthly update on youtube during the works- it would have been class to see that stand rise up. Sigh